Monday, October 30, 2017

30 October 2017 WEEK 71

Happy Halloween from a country that does not celebrate it whatsoever!
    Not to much happened this week, but I am loving being able to give so much service here in the Mandeville area. This week we had the opportunity to give service for a blind lady in our branch. I chopped down a coconut tree with a hatchet. It was pretty rough but it was fun we pruned and farmed a little bit. She is always so grateful and it is just a testimony builder to me to see her faith and the love she has for us! Also gave some service at a bar this week for an investigator, it was really funny because she thought it was weird of us to handle beer and such. But I know that she was grateful!
    Also the coolest experience that I had this week was, I was able to contact a man in sign language this week. I honestly could not remember a single thing until I calmed my nerves and it just started to flow. I was so gratful for the gift of tongues. But in this case gift of hands. But I do have a testimony that the lord will provide us the things to say when we really need them most even if we have not studied it for a long time.
    Every Friday we go and pray for a salon shop, and honestly it is the funniest thing in the world. They love us missionaries and some actually came to church. We chat a lot with them and there is no english involved, just Patios. 
    We have been working with an 8 year old boy, who is working to get baptized he is a chiild of record. But his name is Mosiah, MoMo for short. He is so smart and so adorable I am very excited to work with him.
    I love you all have an incredible week. I pray for you:)


--
-Elder Gibbons-

Keep Trying. Keep Pushing. Keep Believing. Keep Growing. Heaven is Cheering You on Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.

Monday, October 23, 2017

23 October 2017 WEEK 70

     I do not have a whole lot of time this week but I want to give you an update on how our area is doing and a couple of the fun little things we got to do this week.
     As you may know we have been working with a man named patrick. He has been going really well it is just really hard to meet with him. But we just met with him recently and we were able to put him on date for the 23 of december, and he fully committed and said that there is no backing out. He has been coming to church and the activities and is loving it. 
     Also we had a couple of lessons planned on friday of this last week in a place called knockpatrick. We were able to pick up 7 new investigators in the space of three hours. It really was a blessing as we have been finding new people to teach. 
     Also this week we were able to give some service at a farm. We got to chop yard with machetes for 3 hours straight and cleared out the area so we could begin farming more produce. It is a melon farm, a pepper farm, and banana farm. I will send a couple pics of us working there. 

But I want you all to know that I love you so much and I am excited for this next transfer here in mandeville. 

-- 
-Elder Gibbons-

Keep Trying. Keep Pushing. Keep Believing. Keep Growing. Heaven is Cheering You on Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.




Tuesday, October 17, 2017

17 October 2017 WEEK 69

Of the many challenges we as missionaries face, one of the most common is getting that 2nd teaching opportunity. To improve the percentage of 2nd lessons, we strive to “teach to our investigator’s needs”. When I hear “teach to their needs”, I quite naturally wonder what are their needs? I have been pondering this for a few weeks. Since true gospel principles apply to all; investigators, less actives, part member families, leaders, and missionaries, the answer to “what are their needs” applies to all of us. 
So, here are three things that every investigator needs. Number one, they need hope for a better tomorrow. A hope and vision of a better tomorrow helps them put the trials of today into proper perspective. Two, they need peace in their heart, even though they live in a troubled and turbulent world. And three, they need to feel their Savior’s love. 
When we sit down to discuss the Restoration (or any other topic) with an investigator, we should be pondering, “how is this discussion on the Restoration going to give our investigator hope, peace and love?” We will be counseling together on this during our upcoming round of zone conferences. 

We had transfer calls this past week, and drum roll please......... I will be staying in Mandeville with Elder Evans for 6 more weeks. I will continue to finish training him. I am very excited. Elder Evans and I get a long very well, and I have been able to see the changes he has been able to make as he continues to grow to be an amazing missionary. 

Also this last week we had the opportunity to give so many service opportunities. I love being able to help people and see their reactions when we accomplish just a bit more then they could alone. For example some of the service that we did this week: We mixed and casted concrete to build a house, We helped prune some trees at a church sisters house, by pruning I mean tying a rope around a tree and pulling as hard as we can while he cuts so it can not fall on any crops or the house haha. Also we went down to a place called alligator pond that is full of crocodiles and help build a cottage for a member in our branch. By doing this I was able to see a 13 foot crocodile, and also we chopped a whole bunch of macca bushes, which is in comparison with rose bushes that hurt a whole lot more. I do have some battle wounds. But Elder Evans was able to teach me how to rope cattle and it was so fun he said I would be good at it because I play baseball and have pretty good form.

But this is all for this week, we are still working close with some of our investigators, but I am very happy and will remain. I love this work, and I love being a missionary.


-Elder Gibbons-

Keep Trying. Keep Pushing. Keep Believing. Keep Growing. Heaven is Cheering You on Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.














Monday, October 9, 2017

9 October 2017 WEEK 68

The sound of relief and a sigh is the way that I can begin to describe this week in a whole. We have been up and down, left and right, forward and backward with moving, missionary work, and service. 

Lets begin to tell you about moving. So yes it was official we were able to move into a bigger house that actually fits 6 Elders. Yes that is right we have six eldersliving in one house. But last night we had 8 so it was a party. We have been running up and down to get everything cleaned and fixed so that we can have all said and done. 

Sadly we had to take some of our key investigators off date due to them not quite being ready. We are going to be working with them very closely, but also are going to be visiting with members more regularly so that we can unify the branch and develope lasting friendships between members.

We were also able to give service this week. We helped one of the members of our ward by the name of sister Ranger-Dimple haul maul up her ginormous hill. we shoveled carried and unloaded for what seemed like an eternity, but she was so grateful. She loves having the elders come over, and just loves to talk and be friendly.

I don't have much this week, but i am going to make it up with Pictures so keep a heads up!
Love you all thank you and I am praying for you!

-- 
-Elder Gibbons-

Keep Trying. Keep Pushing. Keep Believing. Keep Growing. Heaven is Cheering You on Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.





























Tuesday, October 3, 2017

2 October 2017 WEEK 67

General Conference has once more come and gone, but no need to be sad. There was at least 6 month's worth of delectable morsels to feast on. What was your favorite talk? Here is a "sample platter" to begin the feast:

President Uctdorf: Let me offer two reasons why we should turn to the Lord;
First, your life will be better.
Second, God will use you to make the lives of others better.

Jean B. Bingham: Lasting joy is found in focusing on our Savior Jesus Christ and living the Gospel as demonstrated and taught by Him.

Elder Joni L. Koch: As we decide to be one with the members and leaders of the church, both when we’re assembled together, but especially when we’re apart, we will also feel more perfectly united with our Heavenly Father and the Savior.

President Nelson: We can’t fully appreciate joyful reunions later without tearful separations now. The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life.

Elder Cook: Holding a grudge is poisonous to our souls.

Elder Alonso: Love without service is like faith without works. It is dead indeed.

Elder Callister: The Book of Mormon is one of God’s priceless gifts to us. It is both sword and shield. It sends the word of God into battle to fight for the hearts of the just and serves as an arch defender of the truth.

Elder Ballard: What is your final destination? Where are your footsteps taking you? And is your journey leading you to that multiplicity of blessing the Savior has promised?

Elder Bednar: Sometimes, brothers and sisters, we try to run so fast that we may forget where we were going and why we’re running.

Elder Hallstrom: Being a child of God is a miracle. Receiving a body in His image and likeness is a miracle. The gift of the Savior is a miracle. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is a miracle. The potential for eternal life is a miracle.

Bishop Waddell: Whatever unexpected path we may have to travel, how we respond is a choice. Turning to our Savior, and grasping His outstretched arm, is always our best option.

President Uctdorf: You are stronger than you realize. You are more capable than you can imagine.

Brother Owen: True repentance inspires us to make our obedience a commitment, a covenant beginning with baptism, and renewed each week at the Lord’s supper, the Sacrament. 

Elder Stevens: A spiritual eclipse can occur when we allow minor and troublesome obstructions to get so close they block out the magnitude, brightness, and warmth of the light of Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Sister Jones: Comparison is the thief of joy.

Sister Eubank: What should we do?... 5 things; The first is to be righteous. The second is to be articulate. The third is to be different. The fourth is to be distinct. And finally, the fifth is to do one through four in happy ways.

Elder Callister: God’s fingerprints are all over the Book of Mormon.

Sister Marriott: When we give our heart to the Father and the Son, we change our world—even if circumstances around us do not change. We draw closer to Heavenly Father and feel His tender acceptance of our efforts to be true disciples of Christ. Our discernment, confidence, and faith increase.

Elder Ellis: “Hard” is part of the Gospel Plan.

Elder Oaks: (regarding the proclamation on the Family) Live by it, and you’ll be blessed as you press forward unto eternal life.

President Eyring: take President Monson’s advice. Immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon.

Elder Holland: Our only hope for true perfection, is in receiving it as a gift from Heaven. He also said, Let’s strive for steady improvement without obsessing over what behavioral scientists might call “toxic perfectionism”.

Elder Ballard: Keep the doctrine of the Gospel pure.

President Eyring: He knows you. He loves you. He watches over you.

Elder Ardern: referring to the scriptures he said, From those thin pages , thick with spiritual insights, we learn truth through the Holy Ghost and thereby increase in light. 

President Uctdorf: When we are in the light, we have a perfect brightness of hope because we can see our mortal trials from an eternal perspective. We will find spiritual healing when we step away from the shadows of the world and into the everlasting light of Christ.

Elder Christofferson: God will show us our flaws and failings, but He will also help us turn weakness into strength.

As for how the work is going in our area is that we are still working with some of our investigators. A goal that Elder Evans and I set, is that we are going to show our investigators that we love them more. We are going to see if we can do more family home evenings, and play more games and relate with them more. 

Hopefully by then end of this week we will be moved into our new house, but we have to pray that will happen. 

I love you all and Hope that you all had a great conference weekend! 

Also I want to give a shout out to Elder Burns who is serving in the mission of Los Angeles California. Happy birthday man! You are awesome and are engaged in a wonderful cause. As you give your all to the lord, he will reward you with blessings on high! Shoot him and email telling him happy birthday. It was yesterday!
chandler.burns@myldsmail.net




-- 
-Elder Gibbons-

Keep Trying. Keep Pushing. Keep Believing. Keep Growing. Heaven is Cheering You on Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.